Egyptian and Iranian Foreign Ministers Meet to Discuss Gaza Conflict at Islamic Summit in Banjul
A Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo on Saturday for the talks.
During the Islamic summit in Banjul on Saturday, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry engaged in a discussion with his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, to delve into the recent developments unfolding in the Gaza Strip.
According to a statement from the Egyptian foreign ministry, Shoukry informed Abdollahian about Egypt’s ongoing efforts to achieve a truce that facilitates the exchange of prisoners and captives, ultimately leading to a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire.
Officials from Egypt, Qatar, and the United States are currently facilitating discussions for a ceasefire in the Egyptian capital.
In recent days, mediators stepped up efforts to seal a ceasefire deal as Israel threatens to storm the border city of Rafah in southern Gaza.
Shoukry reaffirmed to his Iranian counterpart Egypt’s rejection of any Israeli ground military operations in Rafah.
Israel’s threatened assault on Rafah “puts the lives of more than a million Palestinians at imminent danger and would worsen the humanitarian situation in the strip,” the statement quoted Shoukry as saying during his meeting.
Shoukry stressed the urgency of an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip while calling for continued entry of urgent humanitarian aid “completely, safely, and without obstacles,” the statement added.
The Egyptian top diplomat stressed the importance of encouraging countries to recognize a Palestinian state, adding that this would contribute to strengthening efforts to establish a Palestinian state based on the two-state solution.
The two ministers agreed on the significance of bolstering unity among Islamic countries amid immense challenges.
The meeting also touched on the bilateral relations between Egypt and Iran.
In recent months, both ministers have maintained contact and consultation amid recent thawing in relations between the two countries.
Shoukry and Abdollahian agreed to “continue consultations to address all outstanding topics and issues toward normalizing relations.”
